Toy pistol.



N0. '756;988. PATENTED APR. 12, 1904.

E. J. SMITH.

TOY PISTOL.

APPLICATION FILED 22M. 11, 1902. RENEWED SEPT. 4, 1903.

no MODEL.

UN ITED STATES Patented April 12, 190.4.

PATENT OFFICE.

ELDRIDGE J. SMITH, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AS- SIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO PARKER BROS, INC., OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

TOY PISTOL.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 756,988, dated April 12, 1904. Application filed September 11, 1902. Renewed September 4, 1903. Serial No. 172,027. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, ELDRIDGE J. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ToyPistols; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a catapult-gun to be used, preferably, as a toy pistol for throwing paper disks, cards, or other projectiles, such as arrows or spherical articles. The disks are preferably made of paper, because they can be impelled to a certain distance with great exactness and are harmless, thus obviating the decided disadvantage of the various kinds of toy guns commonly used. In order to cause the disks or cards to be impelled in a straight line, it is necessary to impart a rotating movement to them when leaving the gun. My method of accomplishing this is clearly shown in the drawings and explanations hereinafter pointed out, as well as other novel and important features of my invention, which I believe is new, and therefore patentable.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 is aside elevation. Fig. 2 is a top view. Fig.

3 is a bottom view. Fig. 4f is the spring-motor, showing the method of attaching the metallic saddle or finger-piece to the impelling bar or lever, also the metallic brace and flange to secure the spring-motor to the pistol-handle. Fig. 5 is a perspective detail of the trigger. Fig. 6 is a disk projectile. Fig. 7 is a card projectile.

In Fig. 1 the pistol-stock is represented at l, the grooved metallic piece 2 being the equivalent to a pistol-barrel, and has a slot cut away in the lower side of the groove at 3 of sufficient length and width for the impelling bar or lever 41: to work freely therein. This impelling bar or lever .is shown in Fig. I and possesses important and novel features necessary for the purposes for which it is used. In the first place the end of the bar is bent backward at 5, so that when in motion the point of contact of the disk 6 and the bent portion of the impelling-bar will be adjusted vertically to the disk until the bar shall have passed below the fiat surface of the grooved metallic piece 2, when, as can readily be seen, the disk 6 would pass freely forward, the walls of the slot 3 serving as a guide to the impel ling-bar and causing the disk to be projected in a straight line therewith. The finger-piece of saddle 7 is fitted to a depression 8 of the spring-bar and is bent backward, forming a shoulder at 9, which serves as a guide and to hold the bar in its proper position. The metallic flange 10, secured to the spring-bar 11, serves as a means to hold the spring in the socket and also to strengthen that portion of the spring.

Now in order to cause the disks or cards to be impelled forward in a straight line it is necessary that they should be given a rotating movement on leaving the motor-bar. The means employed in accomplishing this are illustrated in the drawings and seem to me to be the most effective and simple method, and

while some slight variations might be employedin imparting the rotary movement to the disks, yet would be in line with the intent and spirit of my invention. The method I employ is to cause the pointed lip 12 of the spring 13 to come in contact with the disk 6 at a point opposite or a little forward. of the center of the disk. It can readily be seen thatthe quick movement of the impelling-bar would cause the disk to rotate rapidly upon it and would of course continue its rotating movement after being freed from it.

Now. in propelling cards of oblong or square shape, as shown in Fig. 7 all that is necessary to give it a rotary motion is to make a peris pivoted at 16 and operated by a coiled springl7, which serves a double purpose in holding the trigger in position .by a spring tension and also to bring the clutch 18 into position to grasp the operating spring bar or lever 5.

The pressure upon the trigger required to operate the mechanism can be regulated by the tension of the coiled spring 17, in conjunction with the screw 18.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is 1. A disk-projector having a bar for impelling adisk and a surface for directing the same, a spring attached to the projector and adapted to engage the edge of the disk before it is impelled.

2. A disk-projector having a bar for impellinga disk and a surface for directing the same, a disk-rotator located behind the point where the bar disengages the disk and adapted to engage the disk.

3. A disk-projector having a movable bar for impelling a disk and a surface for directing the same, a disk-rotator located on the projector at a point between the starting and stopping points of said bar and adapted to engage the disk.

4, A disk-projector consisting of a means for directing the disk, a spring attached to said means and having any impelling-lever adapted to engage the disk, a spring also attached to said means and adapted to engage the edge of the disk.

5. A disk-projector consisting of a means for directing the disk, 2. spring attached to said means and having an impelling-lever adapted to engage the disk, a spring also attached to said means and adapted to engage the edge of the disk in advance of the point of engagement of the impelling-lever.

6. A disk-projector consisting of a slotted barrel having a surface for directing the disk, a spring attached to said barrel and having'an impelling-lever entering the slot of the barrel, a trigger attached to said barrel and adapted to retain said impelling-lever against the tension of the said spring and a spring attached to the barrel -and adapted to engage the edge of the disk.

7. A disk-projector having a surface for di-v recting a disk, a spring-actuated impelling-bar having its upper end curved backward and adapted to engage the disk.

8. A disk-projector provided with disk-projecting and rotating means, and means to produce projecting movement thereof in the line of travel of the disk. 1

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELDRIDGE J. SMITH. Witnesses:

U. E. HOPKINS, A. M. BuNN. 

